News for the Month of October 2018

RLL names Phillips as president – “Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Piers Phillips has joined the team as president. Phillips will report directly to team ownership and oversee operations for the team’s involvement in the IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Series. Most recently, Phillips spent the past three seasons at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports as general manager.” Full release at the link. – RLL – (11/1/2018)

Australia’s Gold Coast interested in INDYCAR return – RACER’s Mark Glendenning reports the Gold Coast wants to discuss a possible INDYCAR return in 2020. “I am opening discussions between Indy and Queensland about the prospect of launching an Indy [event] on the Gold Coast in 2020,” said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. “It’s early days, but it would be wonderful if we can get this signature event back in Australia.” Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/31/2018)

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Trackside podcast 10/30/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 10/30/18 is a great listen as always. Felix Rosenqvist and Ed Carpenter are guests on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (10/31/2018)

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SPM release on adding Ericsson for ’19 – “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports announced today that Marcus Ericsson will pilot the No. 7 Honda for the 2019 IndyCar Series season. The current Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team driver will make the move to the North American open-wheel racing series following the conclusion of Formula One’s season later this year in Abu Dhabi.” Full release at the link. – SPM – (10/30/2018)

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SPM confirms Ericsson as full-time teammate to Hinch in No. 7 – David Malsher reports for Motorsport.com that current Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson will drive for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports full-time in 2019 in the team’s No. 7 car alongside James Hinchcliffe. “It’s a great honor to be picked as one of the drivers at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and IndyCar for the 2019 season,” said Ericsson. “It feels like a perfect step for me and my career after five years in F1.” The No. 6 car will be retained for Robert Wickens “when he wants to and is able to return” according to the team. Full story at the link. – Motorsport.com – (10/30/2018)

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Three teams complete Firestone tire test at COTA – RACER’s Marshall Pruett has posted an update on the IndyCar Series Firestone tire test at Circuit of The Americas on Monday. Alexander Rossi tested for Andretti Autosport, Tony Kanaan tested for AJ Foyt Racing, and RC Enerson tested for Carlin. See video from the test here. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/30/2018)

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Fuzzy’s Vodka will not return with ECR in ’19 – The Indianapolis Star’s Jim Ayello reports Fuzzy’s Vodka will not return as a sponsor for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2019. “It is like the end of an era,” ECR owner and driver Ed Carpenter told the Indianapolis Star. “But at the same time, I look at it as starting a new chapter for the team. I’m really thankful for all of the support that they’ve given us. I’m proud of what we’ve done together.” Full story at the link. – Indianapolis Star – (10/29/2018)

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IMS announces 2019 Month of May tickets are on sale – “Tickets for all Month of May events in 2019 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the sixth annual INDYCAR Grand Prix and the 103rd Indianapolis 500, are on sale now at IMS.com and the IMS Ticket Office.” Full release at the link. – IMS – (10/29/2018)

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Wickens posts update on his condition – From Robert Wickens’ social media accounts: “Did my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today. My upper body is getting stronger everyday. I’ve only been posting videos of the small movement in my legs, but the reality is I am far away from walking on my own. I’ve never worked harder for anything in my life. More to come!!” See his post at the link. – Robert Wickens – (10/26/2018)

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Team Penske announces organizational changes – According to RACER, Team Penske has announced management changes throughout their IndyCar Series and IMSA programs. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/26/2018)

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Upcoming INDYCAR testing plans – RACER’s Marshall Pruett has posted a comprehensive update on upcoming IndyCar Series test plans for many teams throughout the series. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/26/2018)

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IMS announces Cornelison will perform again before 2019 Indy 500 – “Fan favorite Jim Cornelison will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2019, singing “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the 103rd Indianapolis 500 and performing at other events as part of the official countdown to the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Cornelison also will perform at the 100 Days Out Party on Friday, Feb. 15 in Indianapolis and will attend other events on the INDYCAR and Indy 500 promotional calendar.” Full release at the link. – IMS – (10/25/2018)

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SPM promotes Kiel to general manager – RACER’s Marshall Pruett reports Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has promoted Taylor Kiel to general manager. Kiel will take over for the departed Piers Phillips. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/24/2018)

Trackside podcast 10/23/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 10/23/18 is a great listen as always. Dave Furst fills in for Kevin Lee on the show as Kevin joins as a “guest” later in the show. – 1070 The Fan – (10/24/2018)

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Interest remains for third engine manufacturer for ’21 – RACER’s Marshall Pruett reports INDYCAR competition president Jay Frye believes progress is being made towards adding a third engine manufacturer to the IndyCar Series when the new engine formula arrives in 2021. “It’s certainly ongoing, and we’ve been working with a couple for a while now, and recently, we’ve had a few new ones come in and that feels even more encouraging,” Frye told RACER. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/23/2018)

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Italian courts order Ferrucci to pay €502,000 to Formula 2 team – The Checkered Flag’s Aaron Gillard reports Italian courts have ordered Santino Ferrucci to pay his former FIA Formula 2 team Trident Motorsports “€502,000 plus interest and legal fees” for “breach of contract and failing to provide payments to the team during his tenure.” Ferrucci has been expected to be confirmed to drive for Dale Coyne Racing next to Sebastien Bourdais for the 2019 IndyCar Series season. Full story at the link. – The Checkered Flag – (10/22/2018)

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Brown answers McLaren won’t be in IndyCar full time in ’19 – RACER’s Marshall Pruett and Chris Medland report McLaren will not be full-time in the IndyCar Series in 2019. “We’ve taken the decision to not compete on a full-time basis in 2019,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said during a press conference at Circuit of The Americas. “We’re simply not ready yet and are focused on Formula 1, so we won’t be doing that in 2019. We do have the desire, as we’ve mentioned before, in the near future.” Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/19/2018)

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Drivers optimistic after IMS test – Six IndyCar Series drivers tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday to test new Firestone compounds, drive on the oval for the first time since an RPE penetrant was put down, and test aerodynamic changes to allow for better racing in groups. “The ’19 (tire) is much more consistent, it’s much easier to feel what it’s doing, the grip level is up, which we need mechanical grip,” said 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series Champion Scott Dixon. “Firestone, to be honest, has done a very, very good job.” Full story from INDYCAR at the link. – INDYCAR – (10/18/2018)

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Jones to drive ECR No. 20 on road/street courses with Scuderia Corsa deal for Indy 500 – “Ed Carpenter Racing and Scuderia Corsa will combine their efforts to field Ed Jones in 13 of 17 events on the 2019 IndyCar Series schedule, team officials announced today. The 2019 season will see Jones compete in all road and street course events in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Scuderia Corsa Chevrolet. Additionally, ECR and Scuderia Corsa will field the No. 64 for Jones in the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500. Jones will race alongside team owner Ed Carpenter, oval driver of the No. 20, and Spencer Pigot, full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet.” Full release at the link. – ECR – (10/17/2018)

Trackside podcast 10/16/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 10/16/18 is a great listen as always. Cara Adams, Jordan Taylor, and Sheldon Creed are guests on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (10/17/2018)

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King moving on from ECR for ’19 – Jordan King will move on from Ed Carpenter Racing in 2019 per a story on his website. “We are currently working on options for 2019 after Ed Carpenter provided an excellent learning curve for 2018. This year has been a great platform but 2019 is another chapter with some exciting plans ahead that, as a package, will give me the opportunity to show my potential even further.” RACER reports Ed Jones will be King’s replacement as the road and street course driver in the ECR No. 20. Full news at the link. – Jordan King – (10/16/2018)

Castroneves named to Texas Motorsports HOF – “For the first time in nearly a decade, the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame will be inducting two new members at its annual event that benefits the Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter. Castroneves will become the 21st member inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame when he is honored during a special ceremony held in The Speedway Club’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Nov. 3, during the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR playoff tripleheader weekend. Castroneves joins retired NASCAR star Carl Edwards, who was announced as the 20th inductee last week.” Full release at the link. – TMS – (10/11/2018)

Trackside podcast 10/9/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 10/9/18 is a great listen as always. George Steinbrenner IV is a guest on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (10/10/2018)

Report: Ericsson in talks with Carlin for ’19 – RACER’s Chris Medland reports Marcus Ericsson is in talks with Carlin to drive their No. 23 car in the IndyCar Series in 2019. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/4/2018)

Trackside podcast 10/2/18 – 1070 The Fan’s Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee radio show from 10/2/18 is a great listen as always. Graham Rahal and Natalie Decker are guests on the show. – 1070 The Fan – (10/3/2018)

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Report: Ferrucci set to be confirmed for second full-time car at DCR – RACER’s Marshall Pruett reports Dale Coyne Racing is set to announce Santino Ferrucci as a full-time driver in the IndyCar Series in 2019 alongside teammate Sebastien Bourdais. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/2/2018)

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O’Donnell to resign from INDYCAR at the end this year – RACER’s Mark Glendenning reports Hulman Motorsport Chief Marketing Officer C.J. O’Donnell will resign at the end of 2018. “IndyCar, fueled by our tremendous drivers, teams and sponsors, has experienced five years of steady growth,” O’Donnell said in a statement to RACER.com. Full story at the link. – RACER – (10/2/2018)

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Report: INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader at Chicagoland was discussed for ’19 – Adam Stern reports INDYCAR and ISC executives discussed a possible INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader weekend at Chicagoland Speedway for 2019. The deal didn’t go through but is still a possibility for the future. Full story at the link. – SBJ – (10/1/2018)

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INDYCAR posts Miles/Frye update from Victory Lap Celebration – INDYCAR.com has a great story with quotes from Mark Miles and Jay Frye from the INDYCAR Victory Lap Celebration last week. Check it out at the link. – INDYCAR – (10/1/2018)

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Ganassi announces NTT Data extension and Rosenqvist as driver for No. 10 in ’19 – “Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today that 26-year-old Swede Felix Rosenqvist will join the team’s IndyCar Series program in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda beginning in 2019. He will team up with five-time and reigning IndyCar Series Champion, Indianapolis 500 and 44-time race winner Scott Dixon. Longtime partner NTT DATA has also renewed with CGR as part of a new multi-year deal to carry on as primary partner of the No. 10 Honda.” Full release at the link. – CGR – (9/28/2018)

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INDYCAR announces testing regulations and open test dates for ’19 – “Circuit of the Americas, the popular permanent road course added to the 2019 schedule as the second race of the season on March 24, will play host to the only official gathering of all IndyCar Series full-season entries before the season starts. The track in Austin, Texas, will be the site of a two-day open test on Feb. 12-13 as teams prepare for the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, less than four weeks later. Teams are scheduled to test on the iconic 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on April 24, ahead of on-track activities in May leading to the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, returns to the Indy car schedule in 2019 for the first time in 15 years, serving as the season finale on Sept. 22. An open test day is set for Sept. 19, just ahead of the official race weekend.” Full release at the link. – INDYCAR – (9/28/2018)